|
|
Your kidneys play a very important role in your daily life! Use the links below to learn about your kidneys and how they work!
|
|
.gif)
Click me to see a large color image of a kidney!
|
About Your Kidneys
The kidneys are two of the most important organs in your body. They perform many vital functions, which includes primarily
- filtering the blood, keeping some compounds and removing others,
- removing waste and excess fluid, and
- regulating blood pressure, blood cells and the amount of certain nutrients in the body.
 The kidneys are located in the small of your back (the lower back) just a couple of inches above your waist, and to either side of your spinal column (vertabrae). Each is about the size of your fist. (This can be said to be an accurate statement about the size of kidneys because each person's kidneys are proportionate to the rest of their body size and frame. Thus, each person's kidneys are about the size of THEIR fist.)
Kidney Terminology
Here are a few basic terms related to kidneys:
- Urinary Tract or Renal System - Refers to the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra.
- Nephrologist - A medical doctor who specializes in the medical (nonsurgical) treatment of kidney disease.
- Urologist - A medical doctor who specializes in the surgical treatment of problems of the kidneys, ureter, bladder and urethra.
- Renal - Means "kidney."
- Nephrons - Filters in the kidney which remove water and wastes.
- Ureters - The vessel that carries the urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
- Bladder - The membranous sac that serves as a receptacle for urine.
- Urethra - The vessel that carries the urine from the bladder out of the body (also acts as a genital duct in males).
- Urine - Waste material that is secreted by the kidneys. It is rich in end products of protein metabolism together with salts and pigments, and is a slightly acidic, clear amber fluid.
How Your Kidneys Work
How your kidneys function is shown by the numbered items in the following picture:
| |
